By Suamy Beydoun
MANAUS, Brazil (Reuters) – Unveiling a fascinating discovery, ancient human faces chiseled into stone have recently emerged along the Amazon River. This remarkable occurrence is a result of the region’s worst drought in over a century, causing the water levels to drop to record lows.
While some rock carvings were previously spotted, the current drought has revealed a greater variety, offering a valuable opportunity for researchers to determine their origins, according to archaeologist Jaime de Santana Oliveira.
Notably, one area exhibits smooth grooves in the rocks, believed to have been utilized by Indigenous inhabitants for centuries to sharpen their arrows and spears, long before Europe’s arrival in the region.
“The engravings are of a prehistoric or precolonial nature. While we cannot provide an exact date, considering the evidence of human presence in the area, we estimate their age to be around 1,000 to 2,000 years,” Oliveira stated during an interview.
The rocky outcrop, known as Ponto das Lajes, is situated on the northern shore of the Amazon, close to the confluence of the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers.
Oliveira revealed that the carvings were initially discovered in 2010. However, this year’s drought has been significantly more severe, resulting in the Rio Negro receding approximately 15 meters (49.2 feet) since July. Consequently, vast stretches of rocks and sand have emerged, replacing what were once beaches.
“During this occurrence, we not only discovered additional carvings, but we also found a sculpture of a human face carved into the rock,” Oliveira expressed. He is employed by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), an organization responsible for preserving historic sites.
(Reporting by Suamy Beydoun; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Richard Chang)
